A broken water heater will soon become thousands of dollars more expensive to replace in the Bay Area, as regulators move to phase out gas-powered models.
Starting next year, many homeowners will be required to replace broken gas-powered water heaters with electric heat pump models, a swap that is on average $3,500 more expensive, according to a recent report by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
The rule is a part of a broader push to curb pollution from buildings, which the air district says generate significant emissions…